Acarbose's archives

Although not officially indicated in Canada as add-on therapy, acarbose is of benefit when combined with other oral agents. The combination of acarbose with a sulphonylurea is particularly advantageous because the acarbose attenuates the sulphonlyurea-induced hyperinsulinemia and weight gain. Use of acarbose with metformin may be a somewhat less attractive option since the gastrointestinal intolerance […]

Sulphonylureas are currently used as initial treatment for most patients. Metformin is used preferentially in very obese, insulin-resistant patients and in those who have experienced adverse effects to sulphonylureas. Acarbose as initial therapy may be particularly useful in those with mild to moderate elevation in HbA1c and those for whom sulphonylureas or metformin may be […]

Use of acarbose as initial monotherapy for NIDDM is generally considered to produce less improvement in gly-cemic control than that produced with a sulphonylurea or biguanide . Although acarbose produces large reductions in PPG, its effects on FPG and HbA1c tend to be less than those of the other oral agents. Acarbose reduces postprandial insulin […]

Metformin does not augment insulin secretion, does not produce weight gain (although modest weight loss may occur) and is rarely associated with hypoglycemia when used alone. Use of metformin, particularly in patients with marked hyperglycemia and baseline hyperlipidemia, results in a moderate (10% to 20%) reduction in triglycerides, a small decrease (5% to 10%) in […]

Depending on the sulphonylurea, once-daily administration, about half an hour before breakfast, is initially feasible. With the exception of gliclazide and acetohexamide, sulphony-lureas are available generically at low cost. Sulphonylureas are unique among the oral agents in producing weight gain. This can be disconcerting to the already obese individual, and increased weight may heighten the […]

Most individuals diagnosed with NIDDM receive a trial of dietary therapy plus exercise for two to three months. Excepted are patients who present with symptoms due to severe hyperglycemia; in these cases an oral antidiabetic agent – or rarely insulin – may be initiated from the outset. The usual success rate of nonpharmacological therapy in […]

A postmarketing surveillance study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of acarbose as monotherapy and as added-on therapy in 10,269 patients (9440 with NIDDM, 829 with IDDM). Previous treatment with diet alone (30%), a sul-phonylurea (58%), insulin (8%) or both (4%) was continued during acarbose treatment, which was given in a dosage ofup to 300 mg/day […]